Advancing Environmental Economics

Solutions for a Sustainable Future

At the University of Exeter Business School, we're at the forefront of environmental economics, driving innovation and practical solutions.

Our research tackles critical issues like biodiversity loss and climate change, informing policy decisions and empowering businesses to operate more sustainably.

 

Evolving Environmental Economics for Everyone

The University of Exeter Business School is a global leader in environmental economics, renowned for its groundbreaking research that is delivering real-world impact and influencing significant policy change.

Through collaboration across disciplines and with external partners, we're creating a powerful impact, shaping a future where environmental and economic well-being go hand-in-hand.

Our economists and finance experts are making a significant contribution to both economic and scientific literature while also shaping practical solutions that are transforming business practices and driving positive environmental outcomes.

Applying the natural capital approach recognises the inherent value of nature and integrates environmental values into economic and political decision-making, while also enabling the integration of environmental considerations into business and markets.

Our success in this area is attributed to the strength of our environmental economics group. Their impactful research has garnered significant traction within policy circles, a testament to the group's expertise and the value they bring to the global conversation.

None of this would be possible without our clear commitment to a truly collaborative, integrated approach. In fact, the Business School is part of a faculty that has been structured to break down traditional departmental barriers, bringing together different disciplines to facilitate research across discipline boundaries, where natural scientists, economists and policymakers can work together to better understand environmental impacts and explore the opportunities for a sustainable future.  

“Developed in consultation with around 300 partners across business and government, our decision support tools make it easy for colossal amounts of data and modelling to inform the future of policy making in agriculture and land use. This has already informed decisions across the local region worth millions of pounds and national decisions worth billions. Internationally, our Dragon Capital Chair is funded by a Vietnamese equity business and is using economic tools to encourage biodiversity to be taken into account in business decision-making.” 

Professor Ian Bateman OBE
Professor of Environment, Economics and Director of the Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute (LEEP).

Influencing Policy: Shaping Change

Environmental inteligence network wind turbines

Our support for and commitment to sustainability and environmental economics has played a key role in bringing these fields into the mainstream. As we continue to gather momentum, we’re poised to lead the revolution, consolidating our knowledge and expertise at the cutting edge of AI, in collaboration with climate change scientists and leaders at the University of Exeter.

The decision support tools we’ve created are already empowering decision-makers worldwide to navigate complex environmental decisions in a more confident and intuitive way, leading to more informed choices. These are the decisions that will move us towards the UK’s goal of achieving net zero by 2050 while balancing the economic impacts.

Bringing Biodiversity to Business Life

Professor Ben Groom, Dragon Capital Chair in Biodiversity Economics, is applying his experience and insight to strengthening public policy on biodiversity and investigating how the financial sector and consumer decisions can internalise the costs of biodiversity loss and the benefits of restoration.

Part of a £1.6 million partnership that also includes Exeter’s Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute (LEEP) and the Department of Economics, Professor Ben Groom’s research focuses on the economic and financial aspects of biodiversity. This includes the value of offsets for carbon and biodiversity, how measure and value biodiversity and nature-based risks for economic decisions and how to ensure that future generations’ well-being is accounted for fairly in present day decision-making. This work is vital to raising the visibility of biodiversity in decision-making and fostering a sustainable future that prioritises long-term well-being.

Sustainable Futures and Investments

We’re also exploring the role of sustainability in evaluating risk return profiles in the financial investment markets. Our research is evidencing how sustainability is enhancing customer loyalty, reducing risk and influencing performance.

Leading this initiative is Professor Chendi Zhang, the Business School’s Associate Dean for Research and Impact, Professor of Finance, and Director of Exeter Sustainable Finance Centre. His research into policy implications is using a unique approach, integrating traditional financial and economic tools with environmental and social considerations to understand sustainability.

As a result, his work spans a diverse range of areas from internal carbon pricing strategies to the potential link between a company’s sustainability practices and employee productivity and performance, all with an eye on the implications for investors and long-term profitability.

Trees are planted on coins in human hands with green natural backgrounds.

“In my research, I’m often taking a traditional approach by using the lens of investors who care only about risk and returns. For example, one area of interest is how when a company becomes green, how this attracts more loyal customers, affects future cash flows and reduces risk. Of course that increases valuation, but also lowers returns in the long term. This will mobilise finance into green transition not because investors love the environment, but because the business model lowers cost of capital. Our strength in Exeter is our integrated collaborative approach: we work together with environmental economists, circular economy management, climate scientists, biologists, engineers, and are part of the Global Research Alliance on Sustainable Finance and Investment.”

Professor Chendi Zhang
Associate Dean for Research and Impact (Business School), Professor of Finance and Director of Exeter Sustainable Finance Centre.

The Future of Offsetting

Our commitment to delivering real-world impact and significant policy changes is evidenced by our work in developing offset markets. These innovative markets are an excellent example of incentivising companies to change their behaviour in a way that is better for the environment but also promotes profit maximisation and has the potential to significantly accelerate the transition towards a sustainable future.

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Connect with us

We work with many colleagues at other institutions across the world on joint research and education projects. Connect with our academic community and explore exciting new possibilities.

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Let’s work together

We power transformative change for businesses by translating our research and education power into real world impact. Get in touch and work with us to deliver a greener, healthier and fairer future.

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Executive Education

Our suite of executive training and development programmes relate to our core themes of expertise and are delivered in-person and online by our renowned faculty and guest speakers.

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